Apparatus for feeding and distributing electrical cordage



May 27, 1952 R. T. ADAMS 8,485

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICAL CORDAGE 8 Sheets-Sheet1 Original Filed Jan. 11, 1945 IN VEN TOE y E. 7. Harms HTTOP NE) May27, 1952 R. T. ADAMS 2,598,485

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICAL CORDAGE Original FiledJan. 11, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VENTOE E. 7.34 was kTT EA/EY R. T.ADAMS 2,598,485

TING ELECTRICAL CORDAGE May 27, 1952 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND DISTRIBUOriginal Filed Jan. 11, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. T. ADAMS May 27, 1952APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICAL CORDAGE 8 Sheets-Sheet4 Original Filed Jan. 11, 1945 IN VE N TOE E ZHomws lNl/E/VIOR 8 sheetssheet 5 krrofi EY g mQ R. T. ADAMS APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ANDDISTRIBUTING ELECTRICAL CORDAGE May 27, 1952 Original Filed Jan. 11,1945 R. T. ADAMS May 27, 1952 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND DISTRIBUTINGELECTRICAL CORDAGEI 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Jan. 11, 1945NVENTOE 6. 7.3406015 87 firm/5W5) R. T. ADAMS May 27, 1952 APPARATUS FORFEEDING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICAL CORDAGE 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 OriginalFiled Jan. 11, 1945 //VVEN we 1?. 7. HID/9M5 rraewe R. T. ADAMS May 27,1952 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICAL CORDAGE 8Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed Jan. 11, 1945 omwhwq w Q '//v VENTOEHTTO/P 7 Patented May 27, 1952 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND DISTRIB- UTIN GELECTRICAL CORDAGE Robert T. Adams, Chatham, N. J., assignor to WesternElectric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Original application January 11, 1945, Serial No.

572,413, now Patent No. 2,422,282, dated June 17, 1947. Divided and thisapplication May 16, 1947, Serial No. 748,376

11 Claims. (01. 23-1) This invention relates to apparatus for feedingand distributing electrical cordage, and more particularly to apparatusfor feeding electrical cordage to and distributing the cordage overelements of a machine for forming individual electrical connecting cordsfrom the cordage.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.572,413, filed January 11, 1945, for Article Forming Apparatus, nowPatent 2,422,282.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and efficientapparatus for feeding and distributing electrical cordage.

Connecting cords for use in the telephone and like industries may becompletely formed. from cordage having the individual conductorscomprising the core thereof thrown out through a braided covering atregular intervals, by means of the apparatus disclosed in theaforementioned Patent Number 2,422,282. In accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention, the cordage is fed by a distributormechanism operating in timed relation to a rotatable turret, whichconstitutes a carrier for carrying successive portions of the cordage,in such manner that the distributing mechanism wraps the cordage aroundpulleys mounted on the turret and pulleys on movable plates carried bythe turret and between clamping devices which grip the cord tightlyduring the movement of the movable plates whereby the braided coveringon the cordage is broken at the point where the loops extend out throughthe cover. The individual conductors are then arranged on suitablespring pressed pins on the plates, which hold them under tension andproperly locate the conductors and the broken ends of the braidedcovering in position to have terminals attached to the conductors, tohave the conductors severed at points adjacent to the terminals and tohave stay bands and S-hooks attached to the ends of the braided coveringby a punch press mechanism.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1is a front elevational View of an apparatus embodying the invention andshowing the punch press and distributor, as well as the turret inelevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and showing thedrive mechanisms for the punch press, turret and distributor;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showingdetails of the turret on a larger scale than they are shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 4--4 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows and showingportions of the apparatus mounted on the turret;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 3 in the direction of the arrows showing some details of a carriagemechanism mounted on the turret;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view showing a portion of thedistributing mechanism in front elevation and a portion of the turret insection;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the distributingmechanism and showing portions thereof on a slightly larger scale thanthey are shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 88 of Fig. 7showing details of construction of a solenoid actuated clamp mounted onthe distributor for clamping the cord after a predetermined lengththereof has been fed by the distributor mechanism;

Fig. 9 is an irregular sectional View taken substantially along the line99 of Fig. 7 in the direction of the arrows showing portions of thedistributor mechanism in elevation and other portions thereof insection;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken sub stantially along the linel0lll of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrows showing cam tracks whichcontrol the movements of the distributor mechanism;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of a portionof the turret showing one of the movable plates which supports one ofthe pulleys and is, in turn, supported on a slidable carriage;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, but showing the cord after thebraided covering thereon has been broken and the individual conductorshave been aligned upon the pins which will hold them in position to beoperated upon in the punch press mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a detail view (on an enlarged scale) of the individualconductors and braid covered cordage after they have had the terminals,stay band and S-hcok attached to them in the punch press mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on the line Ml4of Fig. 12 in the direction of the arrows showing the resilient mountingof the plate which holds the individual conductors and the cordage inposition to have the various parts attached to them, and

Figs. l5.and..l6, when placed side by side, with Fig. 16 to the right ofFig. 15, comprises adiagrammatic developed view of the turret showingthe various mechanisms thereon in their operated condition around theturret.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings is designed to operate uponcordage'liii, as shown most clearly in Fig. 11, having individuallyinsulated conductors 3!, 32 and 33 looped out through the braidedcovering on the-cordage at predetermined intervals. In the operation ofthe apparatus, the braided covering on the cordage is broken apart atthe points where the individually insulated conductors 3E, 32 and 33 arelooped out through the braided covering and two terminals 3-3-i (Fig.13) are attached to each conductor in the area between the broken endsof-the covering. In addition, a. stay band 35 and an S-hookSG areapplied to the outside of the braided-covering on the cordage just backof the:respective-points where thecovering is broken to facilitate themounting of the cords thus formed in electrical apparatus. A'shortsection of each conductor 3|, 32' and 33 is out out between theterminals 54-34, whereby in each cycle of theapparatus a single, doubleended cord, having a-stay band 35 atone end, an S-hook 36 at'theQtherendand the three conductors with terminals-34-34attached to them,is formed.

The apparatus is mounted upon a main base member 40 (Figsl -and2) :fromwhich there extends apedestal-M for supporting a turret,designatedgeneraflyby the numeral 52. The pedestal 4lis .:formedintegrally with'a press supporting bracket 53, which supports ahorizontal type punch-press, designatedgenerally bythe numeral 44.Mounted on the main base" member 40 is a motor adapted to drive thepunch press M through a driving element 45, as-shown in Fig. 1. Inaddition to the motor 45, the base 40 supports a=motor4l (Fig. 2) fordriving the-turret 42 and a-distributor mechanism, designated generallyby the numeral 48 which is located at a fixed position or station. Agear reduction unit 49 (Fig. l), driven directly by the motorll, drivesa turretdriving shaft EO'and-a distributor-driving shaft 5i at fixedspeeds. A sprocket '52, mountedon the distributor-drivingshaft 5-1, isconnected, by means of :a chain 53, to drive a sprocket 54 mounted upona distributor shaft, designated generallyby the numeral 55.Thedistributor shaft 55 is journalled in ashoulder 56 (Fig. 1) formed onthe pedestal 4i and in a tie plate 51, which is, in turn, fixed to astationary shaft 53 mounted in the pedestal 4 I The distributor shaft 55(Figs. 6, 7 and 9) has a threaded portion 59 for guiding and driving adistributor bracket 60. The distributor bracket 60 'ismade in two parts,which, as seen most clearly in-Fig. '7, are clamped together to surroundthe threaded portion 59 ofthe'shaft 55. One of the portions 6| of thebracket 68 has a plate 62 mounted upon it, which carries a stud shaft 53for rotatably supporting a drum 64. The plate 62 also supports a bracket65 (Fig.5) carrying a guide funnel '66, which serves to guide cordage3fl'from-a reel thereof (not shown) to the apparatus. The-guide funnel66 has an extending portion 61, which is slightly resilient, forclamping the cordage 30 down onto the upper surface of the bracket 65 toguide the cordage under a switch lever '68 of a switch 89. The switchlever 68 is so adjusted that when the extending loops of individuallyinsulated conductors 3 I, 32 and 33 pass under the lever 53, the leverwill be moved sufficiently to close the switch 59.

Encircling thedrum 64 is aspiral guide (Figs. 6, 7 and slhaving aspiralled passage 8! formed therein for guiding the cordage 38progressively from the outer or forward edge of the drum is '(therighthand edge. Fig. S) toward a guide tube '82 mountedupon the plate E2.

.95and is adapted, upon energization of the solenoid 86, to compress aspring 9i, which normally urges thelever 89 upwardly (Fig. 8) and toclamp the cordage 323 against a ledge 92 formed on the plate 52. Thepurpose of this mechanismwill become apparent. as the descriptionprogresses.

The second portion of the distributor bracket Bil, designated by thenumeral 93, cooperates with the portion 5! to form a bearing sleeveencircling the threadedportion-Beef the distributor shaft 55. Thisportion-53 of the distributor bracket 6i has a key 8Q mounted in itwhich extendsinto the threads of the threaded po1'tion-59-andthus, whenrotation is imparted to the distributor shaft 55, the distributorbracket v(it will travel alternately upwardly and downwardly on theshaft 55 dueto the configuration of the threadsin the threaded portion53,645 shown most clearly in Fig. 9. The portions? of the-bracketfiilhas an arm 55 formed integrally therewith'which carries a cam roller 98at its. free-end. The .cam roller GSis urged to bear against a camtrack,.designated generally by the numeral 97,113 acompression camlever99 carrying acam roller '1 86 against the opposite side of thetrack El and pivotedon a pivot pin U31 fixed to the arm-95.

The cam track Bl, as shown most clearly in Figs. 9 and 10, ismountedupon'a plate K52 attached to-the tie plate 5? and-to-the shoulder55 on the turret M. The cam track 91 comprises-a main fixed cammemberififi-and a pair of pivotally mounted cam members its and H15mounted adjacent tothe lower and upper-ends of the fixed cam member. Themain fixedcam member has straight portions I65 and 13? at its lower andupper ends, which are joined to a-central straightbracket 65 isreciprocated by the distributor shaft 55. The pivotally mountedcam-members H15 and IE5 are urged to the left (Fig. 10) by contractilesprings H2 and H3, respectively, which areattached to theplate H32 andto pins H4 and H5 fixed to the cam members iii-'2 and 1 B5 and extendingthrough slots llB-and ill in the plate I02.

From the foregoing, it is believed to be apparent that whenirotationis'impart'ed to'the distributor shaft 55, the distributor bracket 55will travel up and down on the shaft 55 and the bracket 60 will beoscillated adjacentto the upper and lower ends of its travel by thecooperative action of the cam track 91 and the cam rollers 96 and I00.The purpose of this will become apparent as the description progresses.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the guide tube 82is mounted to move in close proximity to the periphery of the turret 42and, since the turret 42 rotates in timed relation to the operation ofthe distributor mechanism 48, the tube 82 will feed cordage 30 aroundsets of pulleys I25-I25, I26I26, I21I21 and I28-I28 mounted upon theturret 42 (Figs. 3, 15 and 16) of which there are provided four setsspaced at intervals around the turret. The pulleys I26-I 26 and I28I28are freely rotatable on stud shafts I29'I29 fixed to the upper portionof the turret 42, as illustrated in Fig. 5, whereas the pulleys I25-I25and I21-l21 are not only freely rotat able on their respective shaftsbut also are movably mounted, as will be described hereinafter.

' The turret 42 (Fig. 4) comprises an upper bearing sleeve I30, which isfreely rotatable about the stationary shaft 58, a bearing I3I beinginterposed between the shaft 58 and sleeve I30. The lower end of thesleeve I30 has a shoulder I32 formed thereon, which bears upon a bearingmember I 33 encircling the shaft 58 and positioned on the upper end of areduced portion I34 of the pedestal 4|. Attached to or formed integrallywith the sleeve I30 is a top plate I35 of annular configuration, whichextends horizontally and has depending from it an annular skirt I36comprising the outer surface of the turret 42. The skirt I36, inaddition to being supported by the top plate I35, which extends from thesleeve I30 to the skirt, is braced by a spider I31 extending from thesleeve I 30 to a point intermediate the ends of the annular skirt I36.The skirt I36 extends downwardly to a point adjacent to the shoulder 56and has suitably attached to or formed integrally with it a support ringI38, to the undersurface of which a ring gear I39 is fixed. The ringgear I39 (Fig. 2) meshes with a spur gear I40 mounted upon the turretdriving shaft 50. In this manner, rotation will be imparted to theturret 42 when the motor 41 is operated. In order to hold the lowerportion of the skirt I36 in its proper place during its rotation withturret 42, the support ring I38 bears against a plurality of guiderollers I4II4I (Fig. 4) mounted upon stud shafts I42|42 disposed aboutthe top of the base portion of the pedestal 4| in position to bearagainst the ring.

Mounted upon the upper surface of the reduced portion I34 (Fig. 4) ofthe edestal 4| is a cam track supporting plate I43, carrying at itsperiphery a stationary cam I44, which is adapted to be engaged by camrollers I45-I45 carried on the lower ends of cam levers I ts-I46 (Figs.3, 4, 11 and 12). The cam I44 extends only part way around the pedestal4| and, where it is interrupted, will release the cam rollers I 45I45and permit springs I 41I41 to rock the cam levers counterclockwise, asviewed in Figs. 11 and 12, that is, from the position shown in Fig. 12to the position shown in Fig. 11. The levers I 46I46 are each fixed tostud shafts I48--I48, mounted, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, inbearings I 49-I49 mounted on the skirt I36 of the turret 42, and thelevers I 46I46 are each interconnected with their springs I41--|41'bymeans of levers I6II6I, also attached to the shafts I 48-I 48. Each ofthe shafts I 48--| 48 carries a clamping member I50 on the outside ofthe turret to cooperate with a stationary clamping member I5I, alsomounted on the outside of the skirt I36 of the turret. Also fixed toeach of the shafts I48--|48 is a lever I 52, which is interconnected bya link 1 53 with a. lever I54. The lever I 54 is, in turn, fixed to astud shaft I55 mounted in a bearing I56 and carrying a clamp I51 and alever I 58. A spring I59 normally urges the lever I58 to rock clockwise(Figs. 11 and 12) to move the clamping member I51 into operativeassociation with 'a stationary clamping member I60, similar to theclamping member I5 I. The springs I41I41 and |59-I59 are attached topins I62-I62 extending upwardly from the spider I31.

Through the linkage just described and, by the action of the springsI41-I41 and I59-I59, the clamping members I50-I50 and I51--I51 will berocked into cooperating relation with their associated stationaryclamping members I5I-I5I and I6III60 each time their cam roller I45rolls off the upper surface of the interrupted annular cam I44, thus toclamp cordage 30 to the skirt I36 of the turret 42. The configuration ofthe cooperating faces of the movable and stationary clamping membersI50, I5I, I51 and I60 is such that any downward pull on the cordage 30will tend 'to clamp the clamping members against the cordage moretightly than the springs clamp them. Therefore, the cordage will be heldat spaced points so that downward movement being imparted to pulley I 25will cause the braided covering on the cordage to be broken. Since theweakest spot in the covering is at the point where the individuallyinsulated conductors 3|, 32 and 33 extend out through the braidedcovering, the covering on the cordage will be broken at that point ifthat point in the cordage is somewhere between the pulley I25 and eitherof the cooperating sets of clamping members I59 and I5I and I51 and I60.

Inasmuch as the turret 42 and the distributing mechanism 48 are bothdriven from the same motor and operate in timed relation, it is possibleto feed the cordage at such a rate that the point where the conductorsextend through the covering will be properly positioned in the apparatusif the cordage were formed with suflicient accuracy. However, in orderto compensate for any slight irregularities in the distance between thepoints where the individually insulated conductors are thrown outthrough the braided covering on the cordage, the distributor mechanismis provided, as described hereinbefore, with the solenoid actuatedclamping device 85, which operates under control of the switch 69 tostop feeding cordage each time the extending loops of individuallyinsulated conductors pass the switch lever 68. In addition to theprovision of this mechansim, which cooperates with a switch I10 mountedupon the tie plate 51 (Fig. 1), the pulley I21 is mounted in such mannerthat it may move up and down a limited amount with respect to the skirtI36 of the turret 42. The switch I10 is connected in series with theswitch 69 and is a normally closed switch, which is opened and held openby one of a plurality of plates I69-I69 mounted on the turret 42 for alength of time sufficient to permit the looped out conductors to bedrawn past the switch lever 68. The plates I69-I69 may be positioned onthe turret in such manner that feeding of cordage will be reinitiatedeach time switch I16 engages a plate I69 to properly position thesucceeding loops.

As stated hereinbefore, the rollers I21I21 are movably mounted withrespect to the turret 42 and, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 6,the rollers I21 |21 are freely rotatable on a plate arca es 7 I-12,=which is slidably mounted with respect to the turret 42. The plate I1 2:has r a horizontally extending portion I13 provided with 'a suitableaperture to receive a guide pin I14, which is .fixed'in the top plateI35 and in the spider I31. 1

A "compression spring I15 is interposed between the undersurface of thetop plate I35 and the upper-surface of the horizontally-extendingportion I13, wherebythe plate Ilzisnormally urged downwardly andslidablein a slot I16 formed in the-skirt I36, being held in place in the slotby retaining plates I11 and I18 fixed to the'skirt I35.

'As previously stated, the rollers II25 are movable with respect to theturret 42. These rollers aremounted upon plates I19-I19 andthe plates,as shownmost clearly in Figs. 11, 12 and :14, .are each provided withfour apertures I8Il-"I8Il adjacent their corners for receiving linerpins I8I-I8l, which are suitably attached to or formed integrally with:corner plates I92-I82 attached to a rectangular framework I93.Surrounding the pins I 8flI8I and interposedbetween the innersurfacesofthe plates I19 and apocket I34 in the framework I83 arecompression springs I85I85, which normally urge the plates I19--I-l9into engagement with the corner plates I82-I82, as shown most clearly in'Figs. 4 and 14. In this manner, the' plates I-19--I19 are normallycarried around the turret with their outer surfaces substantially flushwith the outer surface of the corner plates I82-I82. The rectangularframework I83 has tongues Its and I81 formed on its sides extendin intoand slidable ingrooves I88 and I89 of a-carriage frame I99, whereby-therectangular framework 83 may be reoiprocated vertically with respect tothe carriage frame I98. The carriage frame I9 3 (Fig. 4) has lower andupper tongues I9I and I92 formed on its bottom and top surfaces whichare arcuate in configuration to engage in arcuately cut-grooves I93 andM14 formed in the support ring I38 and spider I31, respectively, wherebythecarriage frame-I Qllmay be moved bodily about the axis of theshaft-58 relative to the turret 42. This relative movementof thecarriage frame I99 with respect to the turret 42 permits the punch pressmechanism 44 toperform operations upon the cordage carried by the plateI19 when the plate is in the punch press station and is held therein, aswill be described hereinafter.

Throughout the major portion of its travel around the axis of the turret42, the plate I19 is held in its lowermost position with respect to thecarriage frame I90 by a cam roller I95 attached to the rear of therectangular framework I83, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. The camroller I95 rides in a cam track I96, which is suitably secured to theportion I134 of the pedestal M and which extends all the way around thepedestal.

.As stated hereinbefore, the roller I95 is carried by the plate I19 and,when the plate I19 is carried downwardly by the rectangular frameworkI83 sliding with respecttothe carriageframe I90, the covering on alength of cordage which has been wrapped around the pulley I25 and whichhas been clamped by the clamping members I59, ISL I51 and ltd will bebroken at the point where the individually insulated conductors extendthrough the braid covering on the cordage. The configuration of theinterrupted cam track I44 and the cam track I96 are such that when theframework I83 is moved downwardly, the clamping. members actuated by thecam rollers I45-I 45 will be in clamping engagement with the cord 8 andthus the braid coveringon the cord will be broken. This operation occursin the first quarter of the cycle of travel of a plate I19 around theshaft 58.

The carriage framework I96 is normally urged to theposition shown inFigs. ll, 11, 12, 15 and 16 by a pair of compressionsprings 205-and 206,which, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3 and 12, are interposedbetween the left side of thecarriage framework I and a block 201 (Fig.3) fixed to the'skirt I35. The springs 205 and 296 encircle arcuatelyshaped half-round rods 298 and .299, which are attached to the side :ofthe carriage framework I99 and the block 201, respectively, to guide thesprings when they are compressed.

Mounted upon 'each of the plates I19-I19 .(Fig. 12) are 'four sets ofstationary pins 2I3 -2i3, 2I42I4, 2I52I5 and 2I5-2'I6. Thesepins extendfrom the plate I19 a distance such that the pins 2I3-2I3, 2I4-2l4 and2I52I5 cooperate with pulley I25 to hold the cordage 39 in position tohave a stay band 35 and an S-hook 36 attached to it by the punch pressmechanism. The pins 2I8-2I6 cooperate with a set of three stationarypins 2I1-2 I1 and three movable pins 2I8, -2I9 and 220 to properlyposition the individually insulated conductors 31, 32 and 39 to receivethe terminals 34-34. As'shown most clearly in Fig. 11 the pins 2'I8. 2|9 and 22B are mounted upon slidable blocks 22I,-222 and 22.3,respectively, which are slidably mounted in slots 224, 225'and 226formed in the plate I18, being held in position in the slots by aretainer plate 221 (Fig. 4) and normally being urged to the positionsshown in Fig. 11 by com pression springs 228, 229 and 239. In theoperation of the apparatus. after a cord has had its braid coveringbroken due to the movement of-thepulley I25 downwardly with the'plateI19 while the clamps I59, ISI, I51 and I69 are clamping the cordage 3%,the individual conductors El, 32 and 39 may be placed by an operator inthe position shown in Fig. 12 and, while held in that position, theturret 42, rotating,'\vill carry the plate I19 into the punch pressposition. The pins 2I9, 2I9 and 220 extendthrough'slots 23I, 232 and 233'in the plate I19.

In addition to the assemblage of pins on the plate H's for properlypositioning the cordage andthe conductors 3!, 32 and 33, the plate I19is provided with a pair of liner pin holes 234 and 235, which areadapted to receive liner pins 236 and 231 (Fig. 4) forming a portion ofthe punch press mechanism. The plate I19 has apertures 238 and 239(Fig'l'l) through which stay band and "st-hook forming tools, to bedescribed in connection with the punch press mechanism. may pass in theattachment of these members to the cordage and the plate is alsoprovided with an aperture 240, through which terminal forming tools maypass in the punch press portion of the apparatus. Since the portion ofthe cordage which extends across the right half of the plate I19 (Fig.12) is not operated uponby the tools in the punch press, this portion ofthe cordage is pushed into aligned grooves 2M and 292, which aredisposed upon opposite sides of a depression 243 formed in the plate I19at the point where a portion .of the mechanism which feeds strips ofterminals to the punch press mechanism tools will move in the operationof the punch press. Similar grooves are formed, as :shownat 244 and 245,to receive the cordage when the punch press tools are operating uponsome portions of them.

After the braid covering on the cordage has been broken and the cordageand conductors have been properly placed upon the plate I19, the platewill move into the punch press portion of the apparatus. As a plate I19moves into the punch press portion of the apparatus, an abutment member280 (Figs. 2, 3 and 12) carried on the carriage frame I90, will engage ablocking lever 26I, pivotally mounted on a pin 262 carried by a bracket263, which in turn, is mounted upon the pedestal 4|. The lever 26Icarries a switch 264, which has an actuating lever 265 extending from itin position to be engaged by the abutment 260. The lever 26I serves toblock movement of the carriage frame I90, thus to hold the plate I19 inposition in the punch press during the operation of the punch press,which operation is initiated upon closure of the switch 264, thecontacts (not shown) of which will close a circuit to energize a tripsolenoid 268 (Fig. 1).

Energization of the solenoid 266 will cause it to attract its core 261to rock a dog actuating lever 258 to a position to release the punchpress clutch for driving the punch press through one cycle of operation.The details of the punch press clutch are not shown herein since theymay be of any suitable type which will connect a fly wheel 2'69 drivenby; the driving element 46 to an eccentric drive shaft 210 to drive theshaft 210 through one cycle. The drive shaft 210 (Fig. 2) is mounted insuitable bearings 21I and 212 and serves to actuate a cross headactuating member 213, which, in turn, drives a press head 214. The presshead 214 is slidable in a pair of ways 215 and 216, which are mounted onthe press supporting bracket 43. The arm of a bell crank lever 219,opposite to that which carries a roller 218, is interconnected with thelever 26I by a link 282, which is normally urged to the right (Fig. 2)by a contractile spring 283 attached to the link 282 by means of a pin284 and to a bracket 28I by means of a bent pin 285.

From the foregoing, it is believed to be apparent that the link 282normally tends to hold the blocking lever 28I in position to engage anabutment 260 on a carriage frame I96 when the turret 42 carries acarriage frame into the press position. When the abutment 260 engagesthe blocking lever 26!, the switch 264 will be operated and willenergize the solenoid 266 to cause the press to go through one completecycle. When the press goes through one complete cycle, the press head214 will be advanced to the left from the position shown in Fig. 2 andthen retracted to perform the operations incident to the attaching ofterminals, an S-hook and a stay band on cordage carried by the plateI19. Near the end of its single cycle of operation, the shaft 210 of thepress will drive a cam 211 to a position where the bell crank lever 219will be rocked counterclockwise to release the blocking lever 26I fromthe abutment-260, thus to permit the springs 205 and 206 to move thecarriage frame I90 back into engagement with the surface of the apronI36 at the right of the grooves I93 and I94.

The press head 214 carries a tool supporting block 30I, on which aremounted a series of tools which attach an S-hook and a stay band pressis described and illustrated fully in the 30I has resiliently mountedart it a. plate m:

which is carried 103* posts 303 303" s'lidable in the tool supportingblock" 30I and fixed to the plate 302. Interposed between shoulders304-304 on the block 30I and the plate 302 are compression springs305-305, which normally urge the plate 392 to the left, as viewed inFigs. 1 and 2. The plate 302 will engage the surface of one of theplates H9 in the punch press position of the ap-' paratus and in theoperation of the press" will press the plat I19 inwardly until shoulders301 (Fig. 14) on the plate I19, which surround the liner pin I8I, engagethe base of the pocket I84 on the framework I83. The springs 305305,which are weaker than springs I85I85, will be compressed first and thetool supporting block 30I will move with respect to the plate 302 beforeit moves the plate I19.

Mounted upon the tool supporting block 30I are three sets of tools 358,351 and 358 (Fig. 4) adapted to cooperate respectively with three setsof tools 359, 360 and 38I held in place upon a tool bed 362 by aretainer plate 363. The tool bed 362 (Figs. 3 and 4) is mounted upon thebearing member I34 and extends outwardly to properly position the toolscarried by it at the punch press portion of the apparatus.

An interconnected strip of S-hooks 3| 4 (Fig. 3) an interconnected stripof terminals (not shown) and an interconnected strip of stay bands '(notshown) are fed to the punch press portion of the apparatus, and,.in theoperation of the apparatus,

the S-hook 36, the terminals 3434 and the stay band 35 are sheared fromthese strips. After the plate 302 has been moved to position to engagewith the plate I19, the plate 302 will be held stationary momentarilyand the springs 305 will be compressed, whereby the sets of tools 356,351 and 358 will move relative to the plate 302. As the set of tools356, 351 and 358 move relative to the plate 302, they will cooperatewith the tools 359, 360 and 36I to sever the S-hOok 36, the terminals3434 and the stay band 35 from their respective interconnected stripsand to apply them to the conductors and to the broken ends of thebraided covering on the cordage. At the same time some of these toolswill cooperate to sever the conductors at points adjacent to theterminals 34-34.

Since a detailed description of the operation of the punch press is notessential for a complete understanding of the present invention, nofurther description thereof is necessary. The punch aforementionedPatent Number 2,422,282.

Operation cent the turret 42. Thereafter, the cordagemay be. directedover the roller I28 and between the clamping members I50 and I5I, whichmay be released manually against the action of the actuating spring I41for theclamping member I50. The cordage may then be directed around thepulleys I25, I26, I21 and I28 and into position between the cooperatingclamping members I51 and I60 to prepare the apparatus for operation Ifno cordage had previously been positioned in the apparatus, the cordagemay be positioned only on the first plate I19 and clamped between 11' te rs Set o la pin members nd. Hill with the looped-out conductors asshown in the left-hand position of the plate H9 in Fig, 15. Thereupon,power may be supplied to thepunch press motor and to the main drivemotor 41 to drive the turret 42 and distributor mechanism 48. As soon aspower is supplied to the motor 4], the distributor bracket 60 will bereciprocatcd along the length of the distributor shart in timed relationto the rotation Of the turret 42. As the distributor bracket travels upand down, it will be guided by the cam track 9 and will distribute thecordage over the pulleys I25, I25, I21 and I23 during the rotation ofthe turret. As soon as the corclage 39 being fed by the distributormechanism 48 has been positioned between the clamping members I50 andI5! and I5! and I63, the clamping members will engage and clamp thecordage laid between them by the guide tube 8 2. The distribution ofcordage over the pulleys will continue during the rotation of he turret4.2.. and will th di tribu e h c rdage in position to be broken by themechanism carried byothe turret.

Each time the looped conductors 31, 32 and 3 3, looped out through thebraidedcovering on the cordage 3i), engage the switch lever 68, theclamp will be operated to grip the cordage and, if necessary, the pulleyl2] will move upwardly slightly, thus to compensate. for differences inthe spacing between the points where the condoctors are thrown outthrough the braidcoyered cordage. In this manner, the looped con-.ductors will be properly positioned to beattached to the pins carried bythe plates. I'm-419 after the braided covering on the cordage has beenbroken.

The rotatable turret acts .asacarrier for carrw ing successiveportionsofthe cordage past the operatingstations. After. a plate I19, withcordage. positioned on it, has trayelledapproximately around the turret,it will arriveat the stationwherethebraided covering on the cordageisbroken. At that. station theplate. I19 willbe moved downwardly bythereaction of thecam roller I (Fig. 4) with cam track isfi and since,at. this position, the clamp members IEil-and I57 are. in their operatedposition, the coveringon the cordage will be broken. The individualconductors thenmay be positioned on the plate H9,

as. illustrated in Fig. 12, where the spring-pressed pins 218, 2!!) and220. will hold-the conductors-3|, 32-.and'33 in engagement with the pins2M, 215, 2H5 and 2i'l.2fl and where the conductors will be properlyaligned to have terminals-attached to them. The continued rotation ofthe turret 42 will carry the plate H9 into the punch press station ofthe apparatus where the S-hook 36-, terminalsBfi-M and stay band35will-be attached to the cordage and-individual conductors, andtheindividual conductors will be sheared adjacent-to the terminals 34-44.After'the S-hook, stayband and terminals arethus attached to thecord-age,- the plate I19, which had been in association withthe punchpress, will'be carried out or-the-punchpress to a position where thecompletedcords may be removed from the pulleys I26, I21 and I28. Thepunch press having severed the conductors, the cords will hang looselyand will not engage the pulley I25. The finishedlends ofthe cordsthenproduced will have theappearance of those shown in Fig. 13.

It :will be understood that when a plate I79 and its carriageframe I98arriveinthepunch press portion of the apparatus, its movementwith "the1.2 turret 32 will be blocked by the blocking lever-2&1 (Figs. 2 and 3)and the carriage frame I-Eilwill be held in th punch press until theblocking lever 281 is moved out of, the path of the carriage frame nearthe end: of the cycle of operation ofthe punch press, It. will alsobeunderstood that, asdescribed in detail hereinbefore, the operation. ofthe punch press will beinitiated by the abutment member 260 on thecarriage frame 190, closing switch 2&4 to energize the punch presstripping solenoid 268 (Fig. 1).

What is claimedis:

1. Apparatus for feeding electrical cordage having atextile covering andconductors extending outwardly from the covering at intervals,

which comprises a carrier for advancing thecordage, means for feedingthe cordage to thecarrier, and means for cont-rolling the cordageieedingmeans including a tripping mechanism actuated by the conductorsextending from the covering and another tripping mechanism actuated atintervals by movement of the carrier, whereby the portions of thecordage where the conductors extend outwardly are placed upon thecarrier in a predetermined relationship.

2. Apparatus for'feeding and distributing electrical Cordage, whichcomprises a carrier for the Cordage, means for moving the carrienaplurality of cordage-engaging members mounted on the carrier instaggered relationship, and means at a fixed station adjacent to thecarrier for feeding the cordage to and distributing it over thecordage-engaging members as they are advanced therepast bythe carrier.

3. Apparatusior feedingand distributing electrical cordage, whichcomprises a turret, means for rotating the turret, a plurality ofpulleys mounted on the turret in staggered relationship, and means at'afixed station adjacent to the turret for feeding the cordage to andfestooning the cordage over the pulleysas they. are advanced therepastby theturret.

l. Apparatusforf-eeding and distributing. continuous cordage including aplurality of conduc tors having a covering thereover and having theconductors thrown through and extending out of the covering atspacedpoints along the cordage, which comprises a turret, means for rotate ingthe turret, a pluralityof pulleys mounted on,

the turret in staggered relationship, means at a fixed station adjacentto the turret for feeding the cordage to and festooningthe cordage overthepulleys as they are advanced therepast by theturret, and means forcontrolling the last-mentioned means including a tripping mechanismoperable by the conductors extending out of the covering and anothertripping mechanism actus ated at predetermined intervals by movement ofthe turret.

5-. Apparatus for feeding and distributing electrical'oordage, whichcomprises a carrier for the cordage, means for moving the carrier, aplurality of cordage-engaging elements positioned on the carrierinstaggered relationship, a reciprocating distributor adjacent to thecarrier for feeding the cordage-to and distributing it over the cordage-engaging elements as they are advanced therepast by the carrier, andmeans for actuating the distributor in response to the movement of thecarrier.

6. Apparatus for feedingand'distributing electrical cordage;whichcomprises 'a'carrier for the cordage, means for'movingthe'carrier,a plurality; of cordage-eng aging elements positioned on the carrieninstaggered relationship; areciprocating and oscillating distributor at afixed station adjacent to the carrier, and means for actuating thereciprocatory and oscillatory movements of the distributor in responseto the movement of the carrier so that the distributor feeds the cordageto and distributes it over the cordage-engaging elements as they areadvanced past the distributor by the carriage.

7. Apparatus for feeding and distributing electrical cordage, whichcomprises a turret, means for rotating the turret, a plurality ofpulleys mounted on the periphery of the turret, said pulleys beingstaggered transversely and circumferentially of the periphery of theturret, a distributor at a fixed station adjacent to the periphery ofthe turret for feeding cordage to the turret, and means for causing thedistributor to reciprocate transversely of the periphery of the turretand to oscillate at the end of each reciprocatory motion thereof,whereby the distributor feeds cordage to and distributes it over thepulleys carried by the turret as they are advanced past the distributor.

8. Apparatus for distributing and feeding continuous cordage including aplurality of conductors having a covering thereover and having theconductors thrown through and extending out of the covering at spacedpoints along the cordage, which comprises a turret, means for rotatingthe turret, a plurality of pulleys mounted on the turret in staggeredrelationship, means at a fixed station adjacent to the turret forfeeding the cordage to and festooning it over the pulleys as they areadvanced therepast by the turret, control means engaged by theconductors extending out of the covering as the cordage is fed to theturret to temporarily interrupt the feeding of the cordage as each groupof extending conductors reach the control means, a tripping mechanismfor neutralizing the control means, and means carried by the turret foractuating the tripping mechanism at predetermined intervals.

9. Apparatus for distributing and feeding continuous cordage including aplurality of conductors having a covering thereover and having theconductors thrown through and extending out of the covering at spacedpoints along the cordage, which comprises a turret, means for rotatingthe turret, a plurality of pulleys mounted on the turret in staggeredrelationship, means at a fixed station adjacent to the turret forfeeding the cordage to and festooning it over the pulleys as they areadvanced therepast by the turret, a switch mechanism engagedsuccessively by the groups of extending conductors as the cordage is fedto the turret by the distributor, clamps controlled by the switchmechanism for gripping the cordage to stop the advancement thereof whena group of extending conductors engages the switch mechanism, a secondswitch mechanism mounted adjacent to the turret, and

a plurality of trip members carried by the turret for engaging thesecond-mentioned switch mechanism at predetermined intervals as theturret rotates to release the clamps closed by the operation of thefirst-mentioned switch mechamsm.

10. Apparatus for feeding and distributing electrical cordage, whichcomprises a turret, means for rotating the turret, a plurality ofpulleys mounted on the turret in staggered relationship, a distributorscrew positioned adjacent to the turret, means for rotating the screw, adistributor nut associated with and reciprocated by the distributorscrew, a guide carried by the distributor nut for directing cordagetoward the turret, a cam track adjacent to the distributor nut, and acam follower mounted on the distributor nut so as to engage the camtrack, the cam track being of such contour that the distributor nut isoscillated when it reaches the end of each reciprocation whereby cordagedirected by the guide is fed to and festooned over the pulleys mountedon the turret as they are advanced by movement of the turret.

11. Apparatus for feeding and distributing continuous cordage includinga plurality of conductors having a covering thereover and having theconductors thrown through and extending out of the covering at spacedpoints along the cordage, which comprises a turret, means for rotatingthe turret, means at a fixed station adjacent to the turret for feedingthe cordage to the turret, a switch engageable successively by theconductors extending from cordage fed to the turret by thecordage-feeding means, clamps adjacent to the cordage being fed, asolenoid controlled by the switch for closing the clamps when the switchis moved by engagement therewith of a group of conductors extending fromthe cordage to temporarily stop movement of the cordage, a trippingswitch positioned adjacent to the turret for deenergizing the solenoidto open the clamps, and means carried by the turret for actuating thetripping mechanism at predetermined intervals to cause the clamps todisengage the cordage, whereby the portions of the cordage where theconductors extend from the covering are always placed on the turret in apredetermined relationship with respect to the turret.

ROBERT 'r. ADAMS.

SREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 999,372 Kempster Aug. 1, 19112,134,514 Heymann Oct. 25, 1938 2,398,975 Swanson Apr. 23, 19462,422,282 Adams June 17, 1947

